New Beginnings

A lot of things started with the new year. 

First, I created a new beginning for myself and had bariatric surgery (January 6, 2016).  Don't think I just up and decided to have surgery and poof, I had surgery.  It is a 6 month process to get insurance to approve it.  Meetings with the surgeon, the dietician, and a psychologist, all in an effort to get the insurance company to say yes.  I've thought about it for years but never had the nerve to just "do it".

I was sick and tired of being overweight.  Well, mainly, I was just sick and tired.  A couple of things finally "smacked" me upside the head.

• First, my husband hurt his knee at a fly ball tournament and I had to run the dog.  I spent so much time crouched down that I couldn't breath, all because I was so fat.  
• Then, there was this baby shower at my new job.  I thought I looked really nice until I saw one of the pictures.  I didn't even recognize me but I did recognize the clothes. 
• Lastly, my older brother, who has been struggling with his weight for years, now has diabetes, heart problems and peripheral neuropathy problems.  I don't want to be me brother in 5 years.  I love him dearly but I don't want his life and that was were I was headed. 

Much to my embarrassment, I started this adventure at 261 lbs.  I'M ONLY 5'2".  I was as big around as I was tall.

I'm now 5 weeks out from surgery and have lost 31 lbs since I started (27 since surgery).  I haven't seen this weight in 8 years.  I am one happy camper and look forward to continuing this adventure.  Sometime later, I'll post before and after but I haven't gotten to the after yet.


On to the things you actually read this blog for........the garden.

I started seeds this week.  They include:

• 6 kinds of tomatoes.  My husband promises he will lovingly tend them since I'm allergic to tomatoes
• Cabbage
• Summer Squash
• 3 kings of spinach
• 6 kings of lettuces
• 3 types of peppers
• Parsley
• Fennel

I did have a picture of their sprouting little heads but for the first time ever, I left my phone on top of the car only to hear it shatter into a bazillion pieces on the street.  New phone, new picture.
The lavender and some lettuce survived the crazy winter and look nice still growing in the garden. 

Yes, those are heating pads under the tray.

I even ordered sweet taters from George, the Tatorman, from Tennessee.  He has the best taters ever.  www.tatorman.com

We have so many projects for this year.  Move the fence on the side of the house back to where it used to be, build a new shed, build a new chicken coop, build 2 retaining walls, make stone steps and fence in the garden.  Love them but those pesky chickens eat the blooms of my squash and stripped my spinach.  Oh, I forgot the most important one - build an outdoor kitchen (yeah right - dream on).

Well, I guess I getter get back to work.  I'll post this and add pictures later.

Happy Trails.